Act 1 — Scene IV. Before Corioli.
Reading edition
Enter, with drum and colours, Marcius, Titus Lartius, Captains and Soldiers. To them a Messenger.[2627]
Mar. Yonder comes news: a wager they have met.[2628] Lart. My horse to yours, no.[2629] Mar. 'Tis done. Lart. Agreed. Mar. Say, has our general met the enemy? Mess. They lie in view; but have not spoke as yet. Lart. So, the good horse is mine. Mar. I'll buy him of you. 5 Lart. No, I'll nor sell nor give him: lend you him I will[2630][2631] For half a hundred years. Summon the town.[2631] Mar. How far off lie these armies? Mess. Within this mile and half.[2632] Mar. Then shall we hear their 'larum, and they ours. Now, Mars, I prithee, make us quick in work, 10 That we with smoking swords may march from hence, To help our fielded friends! Come, blow thy blast.
They sound a parley. Enter two Senators with others, on the walls.[2633]
Tullus Aufidius, is he within your walls?[2634][2635] First Sen. No, nor a man that fears you less than he,[2636] That's lesser than a little. Hark, our drums[2637] 15
[Drum afar off.
Are bringing forth our youth! we'll break our walls, Rather than they shall pound us up: our gates,[2638] Which yet seem shut, we have but pinn'd with rushes; They'll open of themselves. Hark you, far off!
[Alarum far off.
There is Aufidius; list, what work he makes[2634] 20 Amongst your cloven army. Mar. O, they are at it! Lart. Their noise be our instruction. Ladders, ho!
Enter the army of the Volsces.[2639]
Mar. They fear us not, but issue forth their city.[2640] Now put your shields before your hearts, and fight With hearts more proof than shields. Advance, brave Titus:[2641] 25 They do disdain us much beyond our thoughts, Which makes me sweat with wrath. Come on, my fellows:[2642] He that retires, I'll take him for a Volsce,[2643] And he shall feel mine edge.
Alarum. The Romans are beat back to their trenches. Re-enter Marcius, cursing.[2644]
Mar. All the contagion of the south light on you,[2645] 30 You shames of Rome! you herd of—Boils and plagues[2646] Plaster you o'er; that you may be abhorr'd Farther than seen, and one infect another Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese, That bear the shapes of men, how have you run 35 From slaves that apes would beat! Pluto and hell! All hurt behind; backs red, and faces pale With flight and agued fear! Mend, and charge home, Or, by the fires of heaven, I'll leave the foe, And make my wars on you: look to 't: come on; 40 If you'll stand fast, we'll beat them to their wives,[2647] As they us to our trenches followed.[2647][2648]
Another alarum. The Volsces fly, and Marcius follows them to the gates.[2649]
So, now the gates are ope: now prove good seconds: 'Tis for the followers fortune widens them, Not for the fliers: mark me, and do the like. 45
[Enters the gates.[2650]
First Sol. Fool-hardiness; not I. Sec. Sol. Nor I. [Marcius is shut in.[2651] First Sol. See, they have shut him in. All. To the pot, I warrant him.
[Alarum continues.
Re-enter Titus Lartius.[2652]
Lart. What is become of Marcius? All. Slain, sir, doubtless. First Sol. Following the fliers at the very heels, 50 With them he enters; who, upon the sudden, Clapp'd to their gates: he is himself alone,[2653] To answer all the city. Lart. O noble fellow! Who sensibly outdares his senseless sword,[2654] And, when it bows, stands up! Thou art left, Marcius:[2655] 55 A carbuncle entire, as big as thou art, Were not so rich a jewel. Thou wast a soldier[2656] Even to Cato's wish, not fierce and terrible[2657] Only in strokes; but, with thy grim looks and The thunder-like percussion of thy sounds,[2658] 60 Thou madest thine enemies shake, as if the world Were feverous and did tremble.
Re-enter Marcius, bleeding, assaulted by the enemy.[2659]
First Sol. Look, sir. Lart. O, 'tis Marcius! Let's fetch him off, or make remain alike.
[They fight, and all enter the city.